Page 67 of Courtside

Sage’s expression must have reflected her confusion, because Maggie waved a hand at her. “I promise I’m goin’ somewhere with this,” she said, before picking up where she left off. “So if I’m going to spend time with someone, their company needs to make my life better. They need to bring me somethin’ that improves my life, not only physically, but actually makes my days better.”

“I’m pretty content on my own,” Maggie continued. “I don’tneedto have a boyfriend to feel happy or to get off. I can do those things for myself.” She shot a smirk at Sage. “That means that if I’m going to let someone in, then it’s because they’re fuckin’ awesome and I want to spend more time with them. Not because I’m not happy or complete without them.”

Sage blinked. “Wow.”

“Did that make any sense?” Maggie bent down, pulling out a tub of limes, which she began chopping into wedges on the counter behind the bar. “Sometimes I get ramblin’ and lose track of what I’m sayin’.”

“No, it made a lot of sense,” Sage replied, her brain churning at a million miles a minute. “Too much sense, actually.”

Maggie gave an understanding nod. “Any luck in figurin’ out your future?”

“Fuck no,” Sage said with a snorted laugh.

“Well, cheers to that,” Maggie said, joining in her laughter. “Now give me an update on your beautiful boyfriend.”

“Still not my boyfriend.” But Sage grinned, relaxing into the ease of teasing banter with a girlfriend, something she didn’t realize she’d missed.

* * *

Sage was still smiling as her apartment door shut behind her.

Her skin buzzed with the kind of energy she’d only ever felt after a win, and as she kicked off her heels and tossed her jacket onto the back of her couch, she felt like she could run a marathon.

It was the last Friday of the break, and Southeastern had pulled off another win.

Tonight, it had been a good win, the kind of win where the momentum was in their hands the entire game. It was the kind of win that could change the trajectory of a season.

Sage had done her job, tracking stats and double checking that water bottles were kept full. But she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes from David, who, in black slacks and a blazer, looked every bit a confident head coach. He’d paced, focused and engaged with every moment that was happening out on the court, his heavy brows pulled down over his dark eyes. Every time they’d scored, he’d clenched his hand into a fist and given a single pump, allowing himself that one small moment of celebration.

Her phone buzzed in her back pocket. She pulled it out and looked at the screen. It was a text from David.

Come over.

The buzzing under her skin intensified. She glanced at her front door and then back to her phone, anticipation sending her heart rate into overdrive.

She was being ridiculous. They hung out all the time. David practically lived in her apartment. But normally he’d just show up when he wanted to see her. He’d knock on the door and she’d answer.

For him to text her like this? It was different.Somethingwas different.

He was giving her the choice. The ball was in her court; if she wanted to come over, the invitation was clearly stated. And if she didn’t? She had an easy out.

Her thumbs were tapping on the screen before she’d concluded her thought.

Two minutes later, she was knocking on the door of David’s apartment. She shifted from foot to foot, goosebumps on her skin in spite of the heavy, warm air.

The door was wrenched open.

“Hi,” David breathed, smiling down at her.

He’d also lost his blazer, leaving him in a pale blue Oxford that he’d unbuttoned enough to show a flash of the dark hair that she knew covered his chest. One side of the shirt was untucked, leaving him looking rumpled and disheveled in the best way possible.

Fuck,he was hot.

“I’m so goddamn happy right now,” David said, and he opened his arms to her.

Sage surged forward, wrapping her arms around his strong middle. When she felt his arms envelop her, she relaxed, letting her cheek rest against his chest as her hands pressed into the firm muscle that covered his back.

Time slowed as they stood there wrapped together in David’s open doorway. Sage breathed deeply, inhaling the familiar scent of him that never failed to draw her in. Above her, she could feel David’s breath against her scalp, sending a wave of goosebumps down her spine.

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